In football, nicknames carry weight — and few carry as much symbolic heft as “Tank.” Over the years, players like Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell, former Auburn running back Tank Bigsby, and seasoned NFL veteran Demarcus “Tank” Lawrence have made sure fans remember that name. It’s a nickname that conjures up images of brute strength, unstoppable momentum, and physical dominance on the field.
Now, the high school Class of 2026 is forging its own legacy — and it features not just one, but a trio of rising stars all proudly carrying the “Tank” moniker. Each with a unique backstory and an ever-growing list of college offers, these young athletes are making a name for themselves long before they ever step foot on a college field.
Let’s meet the new generation of “Tanks” — Anthony “Tank” Jones, James “Tank” Carrington, and Tai’Yion “Tank” King — three standout prospects already crashing into the national spotlight.
Anthony “Tank” Jones: The Five-Star Enforcer
When it comes to the Class of 2026, no one embodies the Tank persona more completely than Anthony Jones. The five-star edge rusher out of St. Paul’s Episcopal in Mobile, Alabama, is a force of nature — relentless, aggressive, and consistently disruptive on the field.
Jones, considered by many as the top “Tank” in this year’s cycle, is drawing early comparisons to elite SEC defensive ends. Alabama currently leads the race for his signature, but Texas A&M is hot on their heels, and other Southeastern Conference powerhouses are lining up to get a shot at landing him.
But before he became a national name in recruiting circles, Tank Jones was just a big, tough kid growing up — one whose toughness was apparent even in his earliest years.
“My dad named me that when I was younger because I was big, slow, and used to break everything,” Jones said with a laugh. “I also broke my arm when I was younger and I didn’t cry. I was always tougher, always playing with the older kids.”
Coaches and scouts rave about his motor, hand technique, and explosiveness at the snap. At 6-foot-4 and nearly 250 pounds, he combines size and speed in a way that very few high school juniors can.
“He plays like a guy already in a college weight program,” one scout said during a Rivals Camp event earlier this spring. “He’s violent with his hands, has great bend for his size, and once he gets going, there’s not much you can do to stop him.”
James “Tank” Carrington: The California Bulldozer
On the other side of the country, a different kind of Tank is tearing up the gridiron. James Carrington, a high three-star defensive tackle from Crean Lutheran in Irvine, California, may not have the five-star label (yet), but his story is just as compelling — and his game just as destructive.
Carrington hasn’t gone by “James” in years. In fact, his nickname dates back to when he was just nine years old, playing against 11-year-olds in junior pee wee football. Even then, he was dominating the line of scrimmage.
“I was playing junior pee wee at nine and some kids were 11,” Carrington recalled. “I was the strongest and most dominant player on the team. We went to nationals. I had played rec ball before that but my weight made me play up.”
It was during that season that his coach, Frankie Knox, started calling him “Tank.” It stuck immediately.
“He said in 30 years he had never seen a kid like me and that I would play on Sundays,” Carrington said. “Been Tank ever since.”
Carrington’s game is built around raw strength and a low center of gravity. He’s nearly impossible to move off the line and has learned how to use leverage to his advantage. As his technique has evolved, so too has his ability to collapse pockets and disrupt plays behind the line.
Pac-12 and Big Ten programs are starting to take serious notice. While he’s not quite as nationally known as Jones, that could change quickly with a strong junior campaign and some key performances in elite camp circuits this summer.
Tai’Yion “Tank” King: Strength Born of Struggle
Of all the stories among this trio, Tai’Yion King’s might be the most inspirational. The four-star linebacker from Port Arthur Memorial in Texas wasn’t born into the Tank nickname because of his size — quite the opposite, in fact.
Born premature at just three pounds, King defied the odds early. His grandfather, Todd, saw something in him even then — a toughness, a strength of spirit — and started calling him “Tank” when he was just two years old.
“I was a preemie when I was born, just three pounds,” King said. “And when I was about two years old my grandpa started to call me Tank because I was strong for the kids that were my age. Of course, being a preemie at birth, no one would really think about being strong like that. But the name really stuck.”
And it’s stuck for good reason. Now a rock-solid linebacker with a nose for the ball and sideline-to-sideline range, King has emerged as one of the top defensive players in the Lone Star State. He’s been a standout at every camp and event he’s attended, earning offers from Texas A&M, Notre Dame, and a slew of other Power Five programs.
“A lot of people don’t know my real name and I’m cool with that,” King added. “I love the name Tank. When they call my name at the football game, I know I’m making my grandpa proud.”
More Than a Nickname
What makes this “Trio of Tanks” so compelling isn’t just their talent, though they certainly have plenty of that. It’s the way each one has embraced the name — making it not just a label, but a representation of their stories, their challenges, and the drive that’s brought them to national prominence.
For Anthony Jones, it’s about being bigger, tougher, and more determined than everyone else. For James Carrington, it’s about early dominance and living up to a legacy built on raw power. For Tai’Yion King, it’s a badge of honor born from perseverance and love — a connection to family that fuels his every snap.
Together, they represent the next wave of elite defensive talent, and the 2026 class will be defined in large part by what these three Tanks bring to the field.
Looking Ahead
As recruiting heats up heading into the fall, all three Tanks are expected to make major moves. Jones may be the first to commit, with Alabama and Texas A&M locked in a fierce battle for the top edge rusher in the nation. Carrington’s star is rising, especially as more coaches evaluate his tape and watch him compete live. And King, with his emotional story and all-around game, is likely to become one of the most coveted linebackers in the country.
They’ve already earned their nicknames. Now, they’re earning their place in football lore — and making sure no one forgets the name “Tank.”
Conclusion: A Legacy in the Making
In every recruiting cycle, a few names rise above the rest — not just for their talent, but for the stories they carry and the impact they make. In the Class of 2026, the name “Tank” is more than just a nickname — it’s a symbol of power, perseverance, and pride.
Anthony “Tank” Jones, James “Tank” Carrington, and Tai’Yion “Tank” King each bring something unique to the field, but they share a common thread: relentless determination and a love for the game that fuels their rise. Whether it’s Jones dominating the edge in Alabama, Carrington bulldozing his way through lines in California, or King chasing down ball carriers in Texas, these young men are redefining what it means to be a Tank.
As the spotlight intensifies and offers pour in, one thing is clear — these three aren’t just players to watch. They’re future stars, already etching their names into the national conversation. And if their early careers are any indication, fans won’t just remember the nickname.
